« Ind. Decisions - "Non-compete clause likely valid, court says" | Main | Ind. Law - Senate Bill 24 would ban executions of mentally ill »

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Ind. Courts - Report on Supreme Court oral argument at IU Bloomington Law

Updating this ILB entry from Jan. 29th, Alisha Chaudhary of the Indiana Daily Student reports today:

Offering law students the opportunity to witness a hearing, the Indiana Supreme Court held an oral argument Tuesday in the Moot Court Room of the IU School of Law.

Five Indiana Supreme Court justices heard the appeal in Richard Brown v. State of Indiana, a 2004 case from the Marion Superior Court. * * *

"This is a rare case," said Joel M. Schumm, Brown's attorney. "The question here is not whether the person committed the crime or not. The question is if what the person did is even a crime or not." * * *

"A reasonable person of ordinary intelligence would know that duping a person to come to your house and undress, at the behest of an automobile, is a crime," said Indiana Solicitor General Thomas M. Fisher. "The Supreme Court makes sure that the law is upheld and a fair hearing is given. That is why they took this case." * * *

The hearing provided an opportunity for IU law students to observe and analyze arguments and proceedings. The audience was also given the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the hearing.

"I would be surprised if they don't find the verdict going in the favor of the defendant," law student Joel Campeau said. "I don't think the prosecutor's case was strong enough. I really appreciated the interaction and demeanor of the justices; they were very helpful. At one point, Justice (Frank) Sullivan even asked the defendant's attorney to emphasize his strongest point."

The oral argument is available online, even though it was held in Bloomington, rather than in the Statehouse Courtroom. Access it here.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on January 31, 2007 03:00 PM
Posted to Ind. Sup.Ct. Decisions